PLAYLIST: Essential Chris Isaak tracks for his Cabot concert

Thursday

Aug 16, 2018 at 8:55 AMAug 16, 2018 at 1:04 PM

Listen to a career-spanning mix of 20 hits and deep cuts in anticipation of Chris Isaak's concert at The Cabot in Beverly Aug. 23.

It’s safe to say that back in the early ’90s, nobody expected to turn on the radio and hear a modern-day mashup of Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison. And yet there was Chris Isaak, whose “Wicked Game” was a sultry sensation, and who’s since been carrying the rockabilly torch for a good three decades.

In anticipation of his Aug. 23 show at The Cabot in Beverly -- part of a tour for which Isaak took to Facebook to ask his fans which songs they want to hear -- here’s a rundown of 10 essential Isaak tracks, each paired with a “deep cut” from the same album (or one from the same period) that’s also worth a spin.

2) “Wicked Game” from “Heart Shaped World” (1989). After being featured in the film “Wild at Heart,” this spooky ballad reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and established Isaak -- somewhat misleadingly, given his bent toward wry humor -- as a smoldering retro hunk. (The beach-set video with a topless Helena Christiansen probably didn’t hurt.) Deep cut: “I’m Not Waiting,” a twangy rocker about moving on, from the topless model who dumped you, presumably.

3) “San Francisco Days” from “San Francisco Days” (1993). Isaak takes to the streets of San Francisco (where’s Karl Malden when you need him?) for some jangly lost-love nostalgia (“feeling my heart skip a beat to see someone who looks like you”). Deep cut: “Except The New Girl,” a classic countrified story song about a loner and the girl who gets to him.

4) “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” from “Forever Blue” (1995). Isaak’s other sexy soundtrack hit with an even sexier video (banned by VH1!), this growling track made a splash in Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut.” Deep cut: “Somebody’s Crying,” one of several Isaak odes to Roy Orbison’s favorite pastime.

5) “Forever Blue” from “Forever Blue” (1995). The album is really Isaak’s sad masterpiece, and the title track, a heart-wringing loneliness ballad that recalls early Elvis, captures its spirit dead on. Deep cut: “I Believe,” an upbeat ode to finding true love -- “but not for me, and not for you.” (Oh well.)

6) “Speak of the Devil” from “Speak of the Devil” (1998). A slow-burner that builds to a raucous shouter, it’s the highlight of an otherwise fairly lackluster album. Deep cut: “I Wonder” from “Baja Sessions” (1996), a typically dreamy ballad from this low-key collection of covers and revamps.

7) “American Boy” from “Always Got Tonight” (2002). The theme to Isaak’s Showtime comedy “The Chris Isaak Show,” it’s an appropriately buoyant everyguy anthem (“I'm no James Dean, baby, but you know I care”). Deep cut: “Let Me Down Easy,” featuring one of Isaak’s best and most melancholy choruses.

8) “How’s the World Treating You” from “Beyond The Sun” (2011). Isaak channels young Elvis for much of this rockabilly covers collection, never more so than on this wry, sad ballad. Deep cut: “Miss Pearl,” a wild version of a rare, rocking Jimmy Wages track.

9) “Mr. Lonely Man” from “Mr. Lucky” (2014). Isaak’s back in classic left-behind loser territory for this riff-heavy rocker about a poor excuse for a self-help pep talk. (“I don't usually talk to mirrors, but until that girl appears, looks like you’re the only friend I got.” Ouch!) Deep cut: “Cheater’s Town,” another slow-building lament that stands with Isaak’s best -- as does the whole album, a late-career highlight.

10) “Insects” from “First Comes the Night” (2015). Bad title, great concept (“Bad ideas are like insects on the windshield of my mind”), perfectly executed in one of Isaak’s harder-rocking efforts. Deep cut: “Every Night I Miss You More,” featuring Isaak in Hank Williams mode, at his most strumming-ly appealing.